RIP Pontiac: 1926-2010

What started as a rumor is now officially true. GM has announced that Pontiac will be “phased out by the end of 2010.” The General’s future plan is to build around just four brands: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC.

As part of the news, GM also announced that it plans to release info on the futures of Saab, Saturn, and Hummer by the end of 2009 “at the latest.” In total, the manufacturer expects to end up with 34 nameplates for 2010, compared to 48 in 2008 – about 29% less.